Compare and contrast Wilson's Fourteen Points to the Treaty of Versailles.

Wilson's 14 Points was an ideal plan aimed at ending the problems that had caused the war: have open agreements, free trade, democracy, and self determination. The actual plan (Treaty of Versailles) reflected the immediate needs of European nations to reduce Germany's power and to extend their own, as well as to pay the high costs of the war.

1. The war had been fought on European soil, and those nations were determined that Germany would pay for damages and be reduced in power not only at home, but also around the world.

2. Wilson agreed to the loss/compromise of points #1-13 in order to get the League of Nations into the final treaty, although it was never ratified at home (a whole other essay topic).

3. Because the Treaty did not address the causes of war, left a power imbalance in Europe, and caused great resentment in Germany, the seeds were planted for another war in which Germany could claim that the treaty was unfair and they would never have agreed to the armistice if they had known that this was the treaty they would get.